literas] is the expression used for a long epistle ; the quantity is not to be referred to the single letters, but to them when joined together. The Epistle to the Hebrews is longer, which however is said to be short, xiii. 22 ; but this is said to be long, because it was on one subject, by the hand of Paul himself, and on a point regarding which the Gralatians ought to have been long ago well established. Also the former is compared to horta tory, the latter to polemic theology.1 He had not heretofore written a longer epistle.
12. "Offoi) as many as. — tfarpMfwtfiffcu) to make a fair show before you : comp. 2 Cor. v. 12. — dvayxafyvtiv, constrain) by their example, ver. 13, and importunity. The same word occurs, ch. ii. 3, 14. — /AO'VOV, only) Such persons therefore wished to be considered in other respects as Christians. — diuxuvrat, they should suffer persecution) from the Jews, or even from the Gentiles, who now bore more easily with the antiquity [antiquated usages] of the Jews, than with the supernatural novelty [new doctrine and rule] of the Christian faith.
13. Ai/ro/, they themselves) So far from it being their interest, that the law should be observed by you. — <rafx/, in your flesh) if it be circumcised.
14. 'E/a,o/ <5s, but as for me) I should be sorry to be a partaker of such things as those. — ^r\ ysvoiro xau^a^a/) Josh. xxiv. 16, rpvn, {Ay ysvoiro y]f^7v xaraXiirt/v Kvpiov, God forbid, that we should forsake the Lord. — xau^a^a/, to glory) We have a specimen of this sort of glorying, 2 Cor. v. 15—19 ; Phil. iii. 8, etc. — ev r& ffravpti, in the cross) which has nothing to do with circumcision of the flesh. To glory in the cross2 is an Oxymoron. — dta o5, by which) the cross : for the apostle is speaking here chiefly of the cross ; and if the 81 ou should even be referred to Christ, still the cross must be regarded as the ground on which this reference would be made. That, by which anything whatever is such as it is, possesses the same nature in a higher degree. — %.6<rpos strav- pwrai, the world has been crucified) The world, with its 6 elements,' has no longer dominion over me ; ch. iv. 3. There is a grada tion from the flesh [ver. 13] to the world [in this 14th verse]. —
1 And as compared respectively with their subjects, the Epistle to the He brews was short, that to the Galatians long. — ED.
2 The cross, and to glory, being contraries. — ED.